Friday, April 29, 2011

Tragedy strikes Air Force Academy

It's been a bad week for the Air Force Academy. First, a professor was killed in an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday.

Now, the academy is announcing that two graduates also perished in Kabul that day.

Bryant

The release:

Lt. Col. Frank Bryant, class of ’95, and Maj. David Brodeur, class of ’99, were serving on a NATO team training the Afghan Air Force in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

"Wednesday’s tragedy in Afghanistan continues to deeply affect our Air Force Academy family, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of these graduates,” said Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, Superintendent of the Air Force Academy. “As we prepare cadets for leadership in the world’s greatest Air Force, these events showcase the perils they will face in the profession of arms. The Academy will forever be grateful for the sacrifices of Colonel Bryant and Major Brodeur."

Lieutenant Colonel Bryant, 37, graduated with a degree in General Engineering, lettered in wrestling from ‘93-’95, as well as the team captain and MVP in ‘95, and was currently assigned to Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.

Brodeur

Major Brodeur, 34, graduated with a degree in Political Science and was currently assigned to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

Lieutenant Colonel Bryant and Major Brodeur are the 13th and 14th Air Force Academy graduates killed while supporting operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. The two graduates were killed in the same shooting incident as Major Philip Ambard, Academy Assistant Professor, previously released.